Will Gannett divorce its newspapers?

Thursday, January 23, 2014 10:59 AM

Analysts speculated in a Bloomberg News article Wednesday that Gannett Co. Inc., which owns 82 U.S. daily newspapers, including The Des Moines Register, may spin off its print properties to improve profitability through its TV holdings.

The company last summer purchased Belo Corp, which owns 20-plus local TV stations. Analysts say the company could improve its profit margins by getting rid of its newspapers.

Rick Green, publisher of the Des Moines Register, said Thursday that he has not heard anything from Gannett executives about selling off the company's newspapers.

"I haven’t heard a word," he said. "Its Wall Street and rumors on Wall Street happen every minute. I go to sleep soundly every night with confidence in what we’re doing here in Des Moines.“